CVE-2025-53323
BaseFortify
Publication date: 2025-06-27
Last updated on: 2026-04-23
Assigner: Patchstack
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-862 | The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability is a Broken Access Control issue in the WordPress Pre-Publish Post Checklist plugin (up to version 3.1). It occurs due to missing authorization, authentication, or nonce token checks in certain functions, allowing users with low privileges (Subscriber-level) to perform actions that should be restricted to higher-privileged users. Essentially, the plugin does not properly enforce access controls, enabling unauthorized actions. [1]
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
The vulnerability allows unprivileged users to perform actions reserved for higher-privileged users, which could lead to unauthorized modifications or operations within the WordPress site. Although the severity is low (CVSS 4.3) and exploitation likelihood is low, it still poses a risk of unauthorized access or changes. Since the plugin is abandoned with no official fix, users are advised to replace it or apply virtual patching to mitigate the risk. [1]
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
Detection of this vulnerability involves identifying unauthorized actions performed by users with Subscriber-level privileges that should be restricted. Since the vulnerability arises from missing authorization checks in the Pre-Publish Post Checklist plugin (up to version 3.1), monitoring WordPress logs for unusual privilege escalations or unauthorized post publishing actions is recommended. There are no specific commands provided for detection. Professional incident response and server-side malware scanning are advised for compromise detection rather than relying on plugin-based scanners. [1]
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
Immediate mitigation steps include replacing the vulnerable Pre-Publish Post Checklist plugin with an alternative solution, as there is no official patch or update available. Applying Patchstack's virtual patching (vPatch) service is recommended to provide automatic protection against this vulnerability. Simply deactivating the plugin is insufficient to remove the security risk without the virtual patch. Prompt action is advised to avoid exploitation. [1]